A Brief History of Videogames

Prof. Johansen Quijano

THE PREDECESSORS TO VIDEOGAMES

• Cathode Ray Amusement Device (1947)

• N.I.M.R.O.D. (1951)

• O.X.O. (1952)

• Tennis for Two (1958)

• Spacewar! (1961)

Cathode Ray Amusement Device: Missile Simulator

• Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr. and Estle Ray Mann (1947)

N.I.M.R.O.D.• Ray Redhepher(1942)

• Ferranti International (1951)

Play NIM Online

http://www.cut-the-knot.org/nim_st.shtml

O.X.O.• Alexander S. Douglas (1952)

Tennis for Two

• William Higginbotham (1958)

Spacewar!• Steven Russell (1961)

THE GOLDEN AGE OF ARCADE GAMES (1978 – 1983)

• Pong! (1972)• Space Invaders (1978)• Missile Command (1980)• Pac Man (1980)• Donkey Kong (1981)

Pong! (1972)

Space Invaders (1978)

Missile Command (1980)

Pac Man (1980)

Donkey Kong (1981)

THE FIRST (1972 – 1977)) AND SECOND (1977 – 1983) CONSOLE

GENERATIONSCONSOLES

• Pong! Machines

• Magnavox Odyssey

• Fairchild Channel F

• Atari 2600

GAMES

• Adventure (1979)

• Custer’s Revenge (1982)

• Pitfall (1982)

FIRST GENERATION: Magnavox Odyssey

SECOND GENERATION: Atari 2600

THE GREAT VIDEOGAME CRASH OF 1983

VIDEOGAME CRASH OF 1983

THE REVIVAL OF VIDEOGAMES:

THE THIRD GENERATION• N.E.S. – Nintendo Entertainment System

(1985)

• Sega Master System (1985)

Nintendo Entertainment System

Sega Master System

THE CONSOLE WARS:The Fourth Generation

• S.N.E.S. – Super Nintendo Entertainment System (1990)

• Sega Genesis (1989)

• Neo Geo (1990)

Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Sega Genesis

Neo Geo

THE OPTICAL REVOLUTION: THE FIFTH GENERATION

• Sony Playstation (1994)

• Sega Saturn (1994)

• Nintendo 64 (1996)

Nintendo 64

Sony Playstation

Sega Saturn

THE GRAPHICAL POWERHOUSES:THE SIXTH GENERATION

• Sony Playstation 2 (2000)

• Microsoft X-Box (2001)

• Sega Dreamcast (1998)

• Nintendo Gamecube (2001)

Sony Playstation 2

Sega Dreamcast

The HD ConsolesSeventh Generation

• Sony Playstation 3 (2006)

• Microsft X-Box 360 (2005)

• Nintendo Wii (2006)

Seventh Generation Games

Mobile Gaming

Gaming Cultures• Hardware Hackers (1947)• Casual Gamers [Arcade] (1972)• “Game Player” (1985)• “Hardcore” Gamer (2001)• Casual Gamer (2008)• Translation Community• Modding Community• Indy Development Community

Discussion Questions• Is playing text-heavy games like Dragon Warrior, Final Fantasy, Lost Odyssey, and

Phantasy Star a contemporary equivalent to reading? Why / Why not? Explain and give examples.

• Can we think of events that happen in a virtual space considered a story, even if there is no text or dialogue? Defend your position.

• Consider the impact of the different developments (hardware and software) in the video game industry. Which development do you think was the most important to the video game industry? Which development do you think was the most important for society? Defend your answer.

• Can video games be considered ‘art’? Defend our position.

• Consider the impact on gaming quality of mobile games on the industry as a whole – for example, SquareEnix, a well-known AAA JRPG developer, said that they would focus on mobile and social gaming. At the same time, more people than ever are playing games. Is the introduction of these mobile technologies a positive or negative element for the industry and for society?

• How does the development of mobile technologies and digital distribution compare to technological developments of print culture, such as the printing press?